Straw-stack-forming apparatus



D.`M. GRAHAM.

STRAW STACK FDRMING APPARATUS.

APPLlcAloN FILED MAY 20, 1918. RENEwED :uns 27.1921.

D. M. GRAHAM.

STRAW STACK FORMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man MAY zo. ma. Rmwfn :un: 21.1921.

1,41 1,490, Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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D. M. GRAHAM.- STRAWSTACK FORMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man MAY 20.1918. nENzwEn uns 21.1921;

1,41 1,490, Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

D. M. GRAHAM.

STRAW STACK FOHMING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 191e. RENEwEo JUNE 21.1921.

1,41 1,490. Patented Apr. 4, 1922,

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DAVE) M. GRAHAM, OF kBORDULAC, NORTH DAKOTA,

-I'ARVESTER AND STACKTR COMLANY,

ASSIGNOR T0 GRAHAM-ROCH A CORPORATION 0F NORTH DAKOTA.

ST'RAW-STACK-FORMING APPARATUS.

Specifica tion of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

- Application led May 20, 1918, Serial No. 235,546. Renewed June 27, V1921. Serial No. 480,909.

To all whom il" may concern Be itknown that Divin` GRAHAM, citizen of the United States, residing at llordulac, in the county oli Foster and State oi North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Straw-Stack- Forining Apparatus, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism ior re leiving from harvesters grain Hitting machines the newly cut straws still carrying the gra-in and, simultaneo y with the cutting. forming a relatively iur mass oi the straws while loose and unbound, putting them into moi' or less compact condition and then delivering them to the ground as a stack in which the grains cen be allowed to ren'iain until they have been thoroughly cured and conditioned and made ready flor threshing. Y

.ln the drm-.rings l have shown one ot the 'lornis ol mechanism embodying my iinproveinents. f

Figure l is :i side elevation ot such a stack-'torming apparatus.

F ig. i2 is a. top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation.

VFigs. Il., 5. 6 and T show details.

main iframe or base iii-unie is provided, consisting et sills '1. :rnd a iront cross girt 2.

Beyond this girt there extends forward a supplemental frame having the side bars-.1 il, the front cross bar and the platiorin 5,

these parts being supplementally braced. us necessary. From this lower horizontel main treme there rises a vertically positioned 'framework comprising the vertical posts 6 and the rigidly connected crossbar 'T at their upper ends. letween this upright traine and the horizontal 'frame there :ire bri structures, each comprising a horizontal e' le nient hmfing one or more bars rigid with :md extending ont 'from the horizontal part ot the main traine, the short sill 1l), the inclined brace 1l, and the upright elements having the brace rods 12 extending from the horizontal `part of the sub-structure to the upper ends of the posts 6.

At the 'liront end there are vertical corner pos 1&3 rigidly secured to the sills l et the bottom Frame, and at their upper ends connected by the cross bar 11i. As many as possible of these sills, girts, uprights and braces are formed of' suitable channel, or other structural metal, shapes suitable for secur ing the utmost possible strength with a minimum weight. Y

To the framework thus provided are secured the parts which constitute an; inner side wall 15, an outer side wall 16, and a front end wall 17, together with a swinging gate structure 18, at the rear end. The side walls can be in many respects duplicates of each other; each, as shown, being formed of a series of light boards 15a, placed suitably close together, and each rigidly secured at its ends to one o the front posts 13 and one of the rear posts 6. The front endA wall, composed of similar boards or plates which extend across from one lof the side walls 15 to the other, is rigidly secured to the two front corner posts 13, 13. i

The gate structure indicated as a whole by V18 comprises a frame having vertical bars. 19, 19, rigidly connected by an upper cross bar 2O and a lower bar 21. 22, 22 indicate vertical slats intermediate or" the bars 19 secured rigidly to the frame bars 20, 21, and positioned in such a way as to lighten the gate and at the same time maintain strength and durability.

The lines of the bottom edges of the gate diverge from the center. transversely, for l a purpose to be described.

The gate is pivotally connected by suitable hinges at 24 tothe main frame. As shown ythe end parts of a cross hinge rod 9.5 are supported on the uprights 6, 6, preferably by means of bearings secured to the latter.

. VThe-bottom part or' the receptacle having, as above described, the front wall 17, the side walls 15, 16, and the gate 18, is constructed as follows: lt is formed in two halt parts or sections, which swing in transverse planes. Each half section comprises a framework having elements 27 at the ends, connecting element 27a at the A4inner edge, and a connecting element 27" at the outer edge, these being bars of angle metal by preference; wand also a floor structure or straw ksupport which may be formed oi' slats or rods, though I find advantageous a floor is a short hinge pintle bearing rear end and; the other at the front.

formed of short boards fitted together, extending in transverse planes and' secur to the fianges of the frame elements 27 and 27". For purposes to be described, I positien` the two bottom sections in such way that their inner edges (along the frame bars 27) are some distance apart, leaving a longitudinally extending open; space at thecenter of the bottom. This can be closed,- herleven by means of a movable sub-section indicated as an entirety by 42. It comprises a` supporting `frame bar 43 and a` series of fingers 44,r secured to the bar 43 by one or more clamps It is hinged at 46v and can be turned back under the main half section, as shown in Fi 3 and 4 so as to be idle when not in use. hen this sub-section 44 is moved up into operative positionit can be locked in any suitable way as pins or bolts, as at 47, and it can be similarly locked when thrown out of action.

Each bottom half is pivotally supported by devices at an axis 8. As shown, there 29 mounted in a the frame, one at the 29 is a bracket secured to the frame bars 27 29 secured to y and 27 and carrying the hinge pintle to turn therewith, it being cast with a crank ann 29. which extends outward. 29l is a spring connected to the crank 29c and .to a bar at 30A secured to the frame, the springs 29d (front andrear) tending, normally, to `inner edge of thebottom half upward. 31 is a catch having-its active part 32'in the path. of the crank arm'29c or a suitable lug thereof and adapted to be automatically moved by it as it moves to its limit in one direction. The Vcatch bar 31 is pivoted at 33 and normally held in its operative position by' a spring 33,

The gate is held closed by means of hook catches 34 pivoted at 35 to the frame. Each gate catch can be opened' at option by means of a crank extension 35a. V

The locks at 31 for the two halves of the bottom and the gate catches 34 can all be kopenedby the operator on the platformvot` the machine by rock rods 36, each being connected by devices at 37 with a gate catch 34 and by devices at 38 with the bottom locksl. There are two of the locks 31 on each sideof the machineffor thesections of the bottom.` and one of the gate locks 34 on each side.v The two operating ,rods 36 are each connected to Va spring V33" and at the front end of the machine are connected by cranks 39 and links 40 so that all oiV the .parts last specified can be simultaneously opened by lever 40".V The receptacle and the above described parts are mounted upon suitable wheels.

70. are relatively large wheels on an axis near the rear end of the machine: and at the front there is a castor wheel 71 carried by a standard 72 pivoted to the front frame at 73.

The tworear wheels are mounted on stud axles 7 which are secured to the bars l and 10 o the horizontal base frame.

The receptacle is drawn across the field by any suitable draft devices on each mechanism; Y.

One of the uses to which a mechanism such as above described can be put isthe taking of loose'unbou'nd straws of wheat or othergrain direct-Iy from the harvesting machine and immediately after it has been cut. In such case it can be attached to the side of the harvester, or grain cutting mechanism, by any suitable devices, of which I have devised a number of forms that are illustratedk in other applications for patent,` or it can be independently drawn. The straws are allowed to accumulate in the receptacle and are, if desired, packed more or less. The capacity of the vehicle is such as to allow it to receive the straws cut by an ordinary sickle apparatus over a swathof eighty rods or thereabouts, assuming the straws to be of average length and number per square Jtoot.

VAlfter the receptacle has' received the mass condensed and dis l osed' as desired it can be quickly discharge and left standing upon the ground as a stack mass. When operating in this way the subsections or extension sections 42 of the bottom are'turned up and fastened in operative position so asto support the straw which is deposited at the center, transversely. of the bottom.

Ge11erally,when using the mechanism in this manner, I deposit two or three adjacent stacks of the character above described and then arrange them so as to be properly cured.

Under many circumstances I prefer to form ventilating air passages through the smaller stack masses at the time they are deposited. AndV for this purpose I employ the following devices:

represents a duct, formed preferably of sheet metal. It is of such vertical dimensions as, to extend `from a `plane at or near the ground surface up far enoughl to have its upper part 66 lie normally in a plane some inches above the plane of the edges 27l of the main fioor sections. When the air duct is in use the extension subsections 42 are turned back to their inoperative positions. i Y

The duct former has its lower edges stiflened and braced by angles 56 and it is provided with rollers or wheels 57 mounted in suitable stiflening bars or loops 58,` secured to the inner; surface-of the sheet metal. The duct former is adapted to rise and fall at either end; or. bodily, from end to end; As shown, this is accomplished by having vertically arranged bars 67k secured to its outer' surface near the front end, which are engaged by downwardly projecting bracingand guiding bars 68, carried by the front part of the main frame.

The upper part 66 of the duct former lying between the inner edges of the two bottom sections 27?' serves as a closure for the space between them, and the said edges ot the bottom section serve as holders to keep the duct former in proper line from end to end. The base part of the duet Aformer is carried forward and turned up around the front end, and to be more or less shoe-like, as shown at 69.

This duct former is detachable readily and can be removed from the apparatus when it is desired to deposit stack masses in the way rst above described.`

'.lhe duct-former is movably and separably connected with the stack forming receptacle by a short chain 7T and eyes or hooks theretor '78 and 79, this chain having some slackness to permit of said verticalmovement of the duct-former.r i

When it is in use, the straw mass, which descends when the bottom sections are dropped, is deposited directly upon the former and settles upon its top end down by and around its sides; and as the machine advances the duct former drawn from beneath the mass and leaves an air-duct approximating in conformation and dimensions those of the lduct former. By having the stack mass somewhat deeper alongthe central longitudinal vertical planes there is an increase in the weight relatively, and that part ol the mass along those planes and the straws are there somewhat more densely packed, the consequence being that those which lie around the top of the duct former tend to maint-ain their position and settle into the air aperture to a less extent than when the bottom surface of the mass in the receptacle is approximately horizontal. The pressure of the mass, however, while in the receptacle, is not so great as to prevent all oi:l the necessary movement, vertically, of the air vformer when movingl along below the receptacle.

l have heretofore made numerous staclrers with the air-duct-tormer rigidly mounted on the upper surface of a single continuous bot tom element in the receptacle which required that the entire bottom should be lowered trom plane to plane in parallelism with itself and that it should, as an entirety, have more or less of a bodily movement longitudinally oi' the vehicle. l/Vith the present structure no longitudinal movementof any part oit' the bottom is necessary. The load drops instantly along; the vertical linesof the receptacle; and nothing is required to be drawn out from below itl except the smooth sheet metal duct-former. f

lilith an apparatus of this sort l provide the 'farmer with means i'for handling various materials and handling any one material in several ways by simple and durable mechanism.

l/Vhat l claim is:

l. In a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the travelingr straw receptacle, and an air duct-former normally -outside of and connected to the receptacle and arranged to have the straw mass delivered from the receptacle directly thereon.

2. ln a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the duct-former arranged in a relatively low position, and the traveling straw receptacle having straw supporting and discharging elements normally in relatively elevated positions and which are laterally movable independently of the ductformer.

3. ln a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the traveling straw receptacle, and an air duct-former arranged to travel with the receptacle, the straw supporting and delivering devices of the receptacle being movable to their positions of discharge independently of the duct-former.

4. In a straw stack forming apparatus, they combination of an air duct-former normally traveling on the ground, and the straw receptacle supported independently of the duct former and having straw supporting and discharging elements arranged to discharge the straw upon the duct-former.

5. ln a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the traveling straw receptacle, and an air duct-former outside of the receptacle and detachably connected therewith.

6'. ln a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination ci the straw receptacle, an air duct-former outside of and directly below the receptacle, and means Vtor depositing' the straw mass from the receptacle upon the duct-former.

7. In a straw stack forming apparatus` the combination of the straw receptacle, and the air duct-former outside of and detachi ably connected to the receptacle and ar ranged to have the straw mass delivered from the receptacle upon the top ot' the air duct-former.

8. In a straw stack forming apparatus. the combination ofthe receptacle having the straw supporting' bottom, andthe traveling air duct-former movable verticallyl inde pendently ol said bottom. f

9. In a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the wheel supported receptacle, the air duct-former supported vertically independently oi and 'traveling with the receptacle, the-draft devicesat the front end ot the duct-former, and means for bracing; the rear end oi the duct former against lateral movement. Y o i u 10. ln a straw stack 'Forming appara-tus, the combi-nation oit the wheeled receptacle,

the air duct-former supported vertically independently of and traveling with the receptacle, and the draft devices connected toA the duct-former and arranged to move vertically independent-ly of the receptacle.

11. In a straw stack forming'apparatus, the combination of the receptacle` the traveling air duct-former below andE movable verticaliy independently of the receptacle, andthe draft devices at the front end of the' duct-former. Y

12. In a straw stack forming apparatus, thecombin'ation ot' the receptacle, the travcling air duct-former movable vertically relatively to the receptacle, and draft and bracingdevices at the front end of the ductormer engaging said front end for holding it in redetermined alignment.

113. n a Straw stack forming apparatus, the combination oi" the receptacle, the traveling air duct-former normally below and movable vertically relatively to the receptacleV the draft devices at the front end of Vthe duct-former and? bracing devices` engaging the rear vend of the duct-former for holding it in predetermined alignment. Y

'14. In a straw stack :torming apparatus, the combination of the wheel supported receptacle, the traveling air duct former, the draft devices attached to the front end of the duct-former and means engaging the upper part of the rear end of the duct former to prevent lateral movement of the said end.

15. In a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the wheel supported receptacle, the traveling air duct former-normally below the receptacle, the'dratt devices for positively advancing the ductiormer and meanscarried by thereceptacle bearing sepa-rably against't'he duct former to prevent lateral movement.

16. In a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the wheel supported receptaclathe air duct formertraveling with the receptacle, and independently wheel supported.

17. `In a'straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the wheel supported receptacle, the air duct former t-ravelingwith t-he receptacle andsupported directly'upon the ground independently thereof. Y

18; Ina straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the receptacle having a straw supporting bottomprovided with an openingtherethrough, of the air duct-former below the receptacle and having a closed top arranged to operate as a closurefor the said openinlg.

19. n a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination of the receptacle having a straw supporting bottom provided with an opening therethrough, of the air'duct former Supp() ceptaele and provided with a closed upper rted vertically independently of the re` side,` movable vertically through the saidv opening. Y

20. In a straw stack forming apparatus,

the combination of a straw receptacle adapted to form afsolid lmperforate stack mass,l

an air duct-former traveling in the vertical planes of the path of the receptacle and non mally outside thereof, the receptacle having straw supporting and discharging elements arrangedto deposit the straw from the receptacle in a mass, and means for drawing the air duct-former out from under the straw mass.

21. In a straw stack forming apparatus, the combination. of the straw receptacle, and an air duct-former supported independently of the receptacle and traveling in the vertical planes of its path, the receptacle having straw supporting and discharging elements arranged to deposit the stra-w mass on the 23; In a straw stack forming apparatus,

the combination of the traveling air duct former, a `straw vreceptacle arranged directly above the/formerand means for causing the straw mass" from' the receptacle tomove down` around the sides of' the duct former as the straw' is moving from the receptacle toward'the ground. 4

24; In an apparatus for forming stack massesof loose unbound straws, a traveling receptaclehaving a bottoni structure formed with straw supporting parts which are movable laterally from beneath the straw mass to permit it to drop directly downward to the ground and having a movable gate to permit the receptacle to move freely away from the upper part of the stack mass in combinat-1on with an air duct-former normally below the receptacle, and relatively ,to which the straw moves downward as it drops from the receptacle. i Y

25. In an apparatus for forming stack masses of loose unbound straws, the combination of an air duct former and a traveling receptaclenormally above the former, and said receptacle having a downwardly movable Straw supporting bottom element adapted to move towards the ground on lines outdownwardly movable straw supporting and discharging bottom element adapted to move downward, andan air duct former supported below the receptacle to travel in horizontal planes above those oi? the lower part of said bottom element when in its lowest position.

2T. ln an apparatus for 'forming` stack masses of loose unbound straws, an air duct former normally moving on lines relatively near the ground, and a straw receptacle above said former havinpbottom structure formed in two sections which are movable independently of the air former out from under the load mass and arranged to move in lines outside oit the path of the former to deliver the straws to points below the top thereof.

28. ln an apparatus for forming stack masses oli' straw, a traveling receptacle having a bottom structure formed in two oppositely movable laterally extensible sect-ions.

29. ln an apparatus for forming stack masses ot straws, the combination of the traveling; receptacle having a bottom struc ture with an opening therethrough, and an air duct former below the receptacle, and positioned in the vertical planes oit the said opening, said bottom structure being formed of two laterally extensible oppo'sitely movable sections.

80. ln an apparatus for forming stack masses of straw, the combination of a travel ing receptacle havinga bottom structure formed in two sections, which are normally inclined toward each other and an air duct former below the receptacle positioned in longitudinal vertical planes adjacent those of the lowermost parts of said bottom sections.

31. In an apparatus 'for forming stack masses of: straws, a traveling receptacle hav ing a bot-tom structure, formed in two oppositely movable sections, and an air duct former below the receptacle, each of said sec tions being supported at a fixed axis and having a part movable to horizontal planes below the top of the former.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

DAVID M. GRAHAM. 

